Video streaming orchestrator

ABSTRACT

A streaming orchestrator may monitor the quality of video being delivered to a home or other building. If the streaming orchestrator determines that additional performance is needed, it may create an additional User Plane Gateway in the virtual “white box” environment residing in the customer premises. The streaming orchestrator may instruct gNodeBs to continue to route traffic back to the central core functions or to route traffic to local user plane gateways which transmit video streams to the Internet via localized high-speed connections.

BACKGROUND

Network functions virtualization (NFV) refers to the replacement ofnetwork functions on dedicated appliances—such as routers, loadbalancers, and firewalls—with virtualized instances running as softwareon commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware (e.g., “white boxes”). NFV'spurpose is to transform the way networks are built and services aredelivered. With NFV, any enterprise can simplify a wide array of networkfunctions, as well as maximize efficiencies and introduce newrevenue-generating services faster and easier than ever before. In 5G,NFV will enable a virtual network architecture aspect that allowsmultiple virtual networks to be created atop a shared physicalinfrastructure. Virtual networks can then be customized to meet theneeds of applications, services, devices, customers, or operators.

SUMMARY

As disclosed, a white box (WB) may host a streaming orchestrator (SO). ASO may monitor the quality of video being delivered to a home or otherbuilding. If an SO determines that additional performance is needed, theSO may provide instructions to create an additional User Plane Gatewayin the virtual “white box” environment residing in the customerpremises. The SO may instruct service provider base stations (e.g.,gNBs) to continue to route traffic back to the central core functions orto route traffic to local user plane gateways (e.g., WBs) which transmitvideo streams to the Internet via localized high-speed connections.

In an example, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory coupledwith the processor that effectuates operations. The operations mayinclude detecting data traffic of a communication session for a mobiledevice, wherein the data traffic comprises video that traverses a firstcommunication path; based on detecting the data traffic, determining,based on information associated with the data traffic, that a thresholdlevel has been reached; based on reaching the threshold level, creatinga virtual network function on a white box device; and responsive tocreating the virtual network function, providing instructions to routethe data traffic through a second communication path instead of thefirst communication path, wherein the second communication pathcomprises the newly created virtual network function.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore,the claimed subject matter is not limited to limitations that solve anyor all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first scenario for a video streaming orchestrator.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method for a video streamingorchestrator system.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first scenario for a video streaming orchestrator.

FIG. 4 illustrates a first scenario for a video streaming orchestrator.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first scenario for a video streaming orchestrator.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary method for a video streamingorchestrator system.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary method for a video streamingorchestrator system.

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic of an exemplary network device.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary communication system that provideswireless telecommunication services over wireless communicationnetworks.

FIG. 10A is a representation of an exemplary network.

FIG. 10B is a representation of an exemplary hardware platform for anetwork.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The video streaming customer experience in the 5G environment may besignificantly enhanced by the speed of the new Radio Access Network (NR)and virtualization of the 5G core. White boxes (WBs) may be used forvirtual environment user plane core functions (e.g., 5G user plane corefunctions) and house a video streaming orchestrator (SO) element asdisclosed herein. The SO may monitor the quality of video streamsdelivered to a device associated with a building (e.g., home orbusiness) or an individual user of a mobile device and determine whetherto use a different (e.g., additional) virtual gateway or another networkelement that is traditionally in the core. If there is a determinationthat a different virtual gateway (e.g., User plane-Serving gateway(USGW) or User plane-Packet Data Network Gateway (UPGW)) or another corenetwork element should be used, then SO may provide instructions tocreate or use a different virtual gateway.

With reference to FIG. 1, for example, additional virtual gateways mayreside at edge datacenters or on the user premises. The implementationof WB 102 on the customer premises may host the additional virtualmachines 118, additional virtual gateways (e.g., User plane-SGW 116 orUser plane-PGW 117), or SO 101. SO 101 may instruct gNB 103 to continueto route traffic back to functions of core 104 or to route traffic tolocal user plane gateways (e.g., WB 102) which may transmit videostreams to Internet 107 via localized high speed fiber connections.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, system 100 may include networkelements, such as mobile device 109, SO 101, WB 102, gNB 103, S-GW 105,PGW 106, SO 110, or video streamer 108. Mobile device 109 may be amobile phone, laptop, or other computing device. WB 102 may include USGW116 or UPGW 117. The network elements may be communicatively connectedvia Internet 107, core 104, network link 111—network link 114, or thelike. Network link 113 may be a wireless link between gNB 103 to mobiledevice 109. Network link 114 may be a wireless link between gNB 103 toSO 101. Network link 111 and network link 112 may be wireless linksbetween SO 101 and mobile device 109. Network link 111, network link113, and network link 114 may be NR (e.g., 5G) wireless links, whilenetwork 112 may be a local area network wired link or wireless link(e.g., Wi-Fi or Bluetooth). Network link 115 may be a backhaul link tocore 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method for a video streamingorchestrator system. At step 121, a streaming video associated with acommunication session between two devices may be detected. The videostream may be detected by SO 101. SO 101 may receive an indication ofthe video stream from mobile device 109, video streamer 108, or someother network element. At step 122, SO 101 may analyze the video streamof step 121 or an associated communication path that is traveled by thevideo stream. The analysis may be responsive to the video streamdetection. Factors associated with the video stream that may be analyzedmay include network performance, type of data traffic (e.g., audioformat or video coding format or codec), security level of traffic,quality service level of traffic (e.g., a predetermined priority fortraffic), or the like. Network performance factors may include detectederrors (e.g., link layer errors or transmission control protocol (TCP)retransmissions), congestion along a network link (e.g., network link115) or communication path, or latency associated with streaming video,among other things. Examples of video coding formats include MPEG-2 Part2, MPEG-4 Part 2, H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10), HEVC, Theora, RealVideo RV40,VP9, or AV1. Examples of audio coding formats include MP3, AAC, Vorbis,FLAC, or Opus.

At step 123, based on the analysis of step 122, a virtual networkfunction (or virtual machine) may be created. The virtual networkfunction may be created on WB 102 and the virtual network function mayinclude core network elements, such as a user plane service gateway,user plane packet gateway, or evolved packet core (EPC) or non-EPCelements. At step 124, the streaming video (also referred to as videostream herein) may be sent along the path through the virtual networkfunction created in step 123. This may be triggered because of the typeof data (e.g., a certain type of encryption is needed), to reducelatency, or other factors based on the information obtained by SO 101 orSO 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first scenario for a video streaming orchestrator.Video streamer 108 may communicate along a primary communication path131 which travels through core 104 (with SGW 105 and PGW 106), gNB 103,network link 115, and network link 113 to mobile device 109. Withreference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 which includes a corresponding method, atstep 141, the video stream along communication path 131 may be detectedby SO 110. At step 142, SO 110 may analyze the performance ofcommunication path 131. For example, SO 110 may receive information foreach link or device along communication path 131 that each packet of thevideo stream traverses. For example, information may include inputbytes, output bytes, input packets, output packets, input errors, inputdrops, input framing errors, output errors, output drops, usual trafficload on affected link, types of traffic on affected link (e.g., definedQoS, video, voice, TCP, UDP, source address, etc.), or routinginformation, among other things. In addition, information may includeTCP related errors such as retransmissions, connection reset, frame outof sequence, missing data, or the like. It is contemplated that SO 110may analyze the performance of communication path 131 per streamingservice. For example, there may be a streaming service 1 for gaming andstreaming service 2 for movies. The performance of each streamingservice for video streams along a path may be independently evaluated.It is further contemplated that a video stream may have packets thattravel multiple paths, and each path may be analyzed based on usingtechniques such as median or mean performance across the multiple paths.

At step 143, based on the analysis of the information of step 142 (orstep 122), a threshold may be reached (e.g., threshold errors or latencyfor link 115) that may trigger steps for changing the communicationpath.

With continued reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 2, at step 144, based onreaching a threshold, SO 110 may communicate with WB 102 to createvirtual machines or virtual network functions USGW and UPGW, which mayhave similar properties as SGW 105 and PGW 106 in core 104. In addition,VM 118 may be created in order to test the performance of some or all ofcommunication path 132. It is contemplated that VM 118 may be created onWB 102, SO 101, mobile device 109, or some other equipment on or nearthe customer premise. At step 145, performance testing of communicationpath 132 may occur. Performance testing may include streaming a testvideo with similar characteristics as the video streaming overcommunication path 131. SO 110 or SO 101 may determine whether theperformance of communication path 132 is within an acceptable threshold(e.g., based on path information similar to step 142 or step 122).

At step 146, based on the performance of communication path 132 beingwithin an acceptable threshold, SO 110 may provide instructions tomobile device 109, gNB 103, SO 101, video streamer 108, WB 102, or othernetwork elements in order to change to communication path 132 fromcommunication path 131 for video streaming. As shown in FIG. 3, gNB 103may remain included in a communication path for video streaming. It iscontemplated that a first streaming service may change to communicationpath 132 and a second streaming service may remain on communication path131.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second scenario for a video streaming orchestrator.Video streamer 108 may communicate along a primary communication path135 which travels through core 104 (with SGW 105 and PGW 106), gNB 103,network link 115, and network link 113 to mobile device 109. Withreference to FIG. 4 and associated method steps in FIG. 7, at step 151,the video stream along communication path 135 may be detected by SO 110.At step 152, SO 110 may analyze the performance of communication path135 (similar to step 142). The performance of each streaming service forvideo streams along a path may be independently evaluated.

At step 153, based on the analysis of the information of step 152 (orstep 122 or step 142), a threshold may be reached (e.g., thresholderrors or latency for link 115) that may trigger steps for changing thecommunication path.

With continued reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, at step 154, based onreaching a threshold, SO 110 may communicate with WB 102 to createvirtual machines. VM 118 may be created in order to test the performanceof some or all of communication path 136. VM 118 may route and recordthe activity of a particular video streaming service (e.g., sportsstreaming service) on communication path 136. The recorded activityinformation may assist with advertising to mobile device 109 (orsimilarly situated users individually or as a group), determining whattype of video format (or other information) provides the best videostreaming performance, preexecutes streaming video, planning for networkupgrades, or other network changes. It is contemplated that USGW andUPGW may not be used in this scenario. At step 155, performance testingof communication path 136 occurs. SO 110 or SO 101 may determine whetherthe performance of communication path 136 is within an acceptablethreshold (e.g., based on path information similar to step 142 or step122).

At step 156, based on the performance of communication path 136 beingwithin an acceptable threshold, SO 110 may provide instructions tomobile device 109, gNB 103, SO 101, video streamer 108, WB 102, or othernetwork elements in order to change to communication path 136 fromcommunication path 135 for video streaming of one or more services. Theinstructions to change communication paths may be in the form of arouting table, switching table (e.g., MAC addresses), or the likeupdate. As shown in FIG. 4, network link 111 or network link 112 may beincluded in communication path 136 and USGW 116 and UPGW 117 may beexcluded. included in a communication path for video streaming. It iscontemplated that network link 113 or network link 111 may operate atthe same time with different video streaming services.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third scenario for a video streaming orchestrator.Video streamer 108 may communicate along a primary communication path138 which travels through WB 102, SO 101, and network link 111 to mobiledevice 109. Similar analysis is done as provided in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 andassociated method steps. Here, SO 101 may monitor the performance of thevideo streams. It is contemplated that SO 101 or SO 110 may monitor theperformance and provide instructions to change video streams. SO 101 andSO 110 may exchange information and coordinate changes to maximizeefficiencies. For example, SO 101 may communicate with SO 110 todetermine whether similar video streams (e.g., similar compression orencryption characteristics) are traveling along a desired path. SO 110may send SO 101 information about similar streams along communicationpath 139 to determine whether there is likely better performance byswitching from communication path 138 to communication path 139. Theexchange of information may help predict (e.g., determine a likelihood)that a first communication path may perform better (e.g., withinappropriate latency, error, or other factors) than a secondcommunication path for similar video streams.

Additional perspective is provided below. Implementing an on-premisevirtual environment which hosts user plane gateways may significantlyoptimize and provide capabilities for video streaming traffic as well asother data traffic (e.g., M2M data traffic, gaming data traffic,interactive video, or the like). The disclosed subject matter providesoptions to network operators which may address latency or otherperformance issues of a network. In an example, implementing thedisclosed subject matter may allow networks to direct traffic from a gNBto core datacenters or to a local customer premise WB virtualenvironment. This directing of traffic may improve performance becausethe gNB is communicating with a localized gateway running virtualnetwork functions instead of going back to a core network data center,as provided in FIG. 3. The SO may be a local or core network resourcethat determines how to influence performance of the network. There aremany factors (e.g., information of step 142 or step 122) that may affectperformance. Localizing control of gateways is one example of howperformance of video streaming may be improved.

The functions of SO 101 may be in a separate device or within one ormore other network elements (e.g., mobile device 109 with SO virtualnetwork function or WB 102 with SO virtual network function). WB 102 maycreate virtual machines or virtual network functions that includenetwork elements, such as USGW 116, UPGW 117, gNB 103, an eNB, an MME,or the like. WB 102, which may reside on the customer premises, maybecome the core data center or edge datacenter for user functions forthat customer premise. It is contemplated that methods and systems usedherein may be applied to data traffic other than video streaming datatraffic.

The WB may host a Streaming Orchestrator which may be a virtual networkfunction. The SO, USGW, UPGW, VM, or the like may be implemented as avirtual machine, virtual network function, or a Container (e.g., DockerContainer and Kubernetes orchestrators).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of network device 300 that may be connected toor comprise a component system 100. Network device 300 may comprisehardware or a combination of hardware and software. The functionality tofacilitate telecommunications via a telecommunications network mayreside in one or combination of network devices 300. Network device 300depicted in FIG. 8 may represent or perform functionality of anappropriate network device 300, or combination of network devices 300,such as, for example, a component or various components of a cellularbroadcast system wireless network, a processor, a server, a gateway, anode, a mobile switching center (MSC), a short message service center(SMSC), an automatic location function server (ALFS), a gateway mobilelocation center (GMLC), a radio access network (RAN), a serving mobilelocation center (SMLC), or the like, or any appropriate combinationthereof. It is emphasized that the block diagram depicted in FIG. 8 isexemplary and not intended to imply a limitation to a specificimplementation or configuration. Thus, network device 300 may beimplemented in a single device or multiple devices (e.g., single serveror multiple servers, single gateway or multiple gateways, singlecontroller or multiple controllers). Multiple network entities may bedistributed or centrally located. Multiple network entities maycommunicate wirelessly, via hard wire, or any appropriate combinationthereof.

Network device 300 may comprise a processor 302 and a memory 304 coupledto processor 302. Memory 304 may contain executable instructions that,when executed by processor 302, cause processor 302 to effectuateoperations associated with mapping wireless signal strength. As evidentfrom the description herein, network device 300 is not to be construedas software per se.

In addition to processor 302 and memory 304, network device 300 mayinclude an input/output system 306. Processor 302, memory 304, andinput/output system 306 may be coupled together (coupling not shown inFIG. 8) to allow communications between them. Each portion of networkdevice 300 may comprise circuitry for performing functions associatedwith each respective portion. Thus, each portion may comprise hardware,or a combination of hardware and software. Accordingly, each portion ofnetwork device 300 is not to be construed as software per se.Input/output system 306 may be capable of receiving or providinginformation from or to a communications device or other network entitiesconfigured for telecommunications. For example, input/output system 306may include a wireless communications (e.g., 3G/4G/5G/GPS) card.Input/output system 306 may be capable of receiving or sending videoinformation, audio information, control information, image information,data, or any combination thereof. Input/output system 306 may be capableof transferring information with network device 300. In variousconfigurations, input/output system 306 may receive or provideinformation via any appropriate means, such as, for example, opticalmeans (e.g., infrared), electromagnetic means (e.g., RF, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth®, ZigBee®), acoustic means (e.g., speaker, microphone,ultrasonic receiver, ultrasonic transmitter), or a combination thereof.In an example configuration, input/output system 306 may comprise aWi-Fi finder, a two-way GPS chipset or equivalent, or the like, or acombination thereof.

Input/output system 306 of network device 300 also may contain acommunication connection 308 that allows network device 300 tocommunicate with other devices, network entities, or the like.Communication connection 308 may comprise communication media.Communication media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includesany information delivery media. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media may include wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, or wireless media such as acoustic, RF,infrared, or other wireless media. The term computer-readable media asused herein includes both storage media and communication media.Input/output system 306 also may include an input device 310 such askeyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, or touch input device.Input/output system 306 may also include an output device 312, such as adisplay, speakers, or a printer.

Processor 302 may be capable of performing functions associated withtelecommunications, such as functions for processing broadcast messages,as described herein. For example, processor 302 may be capable of, inconjunction with any other portion of network device 300, determining atype of broadcast message and acting according to the broadcast messagetype or content, as described herein.

Memory 304 of network device 300 may comprise a storage medium having aconcrete, tangible, physical structure. As is known, a signal does nothave a concrete, tangible, physical structure. Memory 304, as well asany computer-readable storage medium described herein, is not to beconstrued as a signal. Memory 304, as well as any computer-readablestorage medium described herein, is not to be construed as a transientsignal. Memory 304, as well as any computer-readable storage mediumdescribed herein, is not to be construed as a propagating signal. Memory304, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein,is to be construed as an article of manufacture.

Memory 304 may store any information utilized in conjunction withtelecommunications. Depending upon the exact configuration or type ofprocessor, memory 304 may include a volatile storage 314 (such as sometypes of RAM), a nonvolatile storage 316 (such as ROM, flash memory), ora combination thereof. Memory 304 may include additional storage (e.g.,a removable storage 318 or a non-removable storage 320) including, forexample, tape, flash memory, smart cards, CD-ROM, DVD, or other opticalstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, USB-compatible memory, or any othermedium that can be used to store information and that can be accessed bynetwork device 300. Memory 304 may comprise executable instructionsthat, when executed by processor 302, cause processor 302 to effectuateoperations to map signal strengths in an area of interest.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 500 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods described herein (e.g., FIG. 2, FIG. 6, or FIG. 7). One or moreinstances of the machine can operate, for example, as processor 302,mobile device 109, gNB 103, video streamer 108, SGW 105, WB 102 andother devices of system 100 and other figures. In some embodiments, themachine may be connected (e.g., using a network 502) to other machines.In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of aserver or a client user machine in a server-client user networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the subject disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

Computer system 500 may include a processor (or controller) 504 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit (GPU, orboth), a main memory 506 and a static memory 508, which communicate witheach other via a bus 510. The computer system 500 may further include adisplay unit 512 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, ora solid state display). Computer system 500 may include an input device514 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 516 (e.g., a mouse), adisk drive unit 518, a signal generation device 520 (e.g., a speaker orremote control) and a network interface device 522. In distributedenvironments, the embodiments described in the subject disclosure can beadapted to utilize multiple display units 512 controlled by two or morecomputer systems 500. In this configuration, presentations described bythe subject disclosure may in part be shown in a first of display units512, while the remaining portion is presented in a second of displayunits 512.

The disk drive unit 518 may include a tangible computer-readable storagemedium 524 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 526) embodying any one or more of the methods or functionsdescribed herein, including those methods illustrated above.Instructions 526 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within main memory 506, static memory 508, or within processor 504during execution thereof by the computer system 500. Main memory 506 andprocessor 504 also may constitute tangible computer-readable storagemedia.

Communication networks may be migrated from using specialized networkingequipment executing on dedicated hardware, like routers, firewalls, andgateways, to networks executing as virtualized network functions (VNF)in a cloud infrastructure. To provide a service, a set of VNFs may beinstantiated on the general purpose hardware. Each VNF may require oneor more virtual machines (VMs) to be instantiated. In turn, VMs mayrequire various resources, such as memory, virtual central processingunits (vCPUs), and network interfaces or network interface cards (NICs).

FIG. 10A is a representation of an exemplary network 600. Network 600(e.g., system 100) may comprise an SDN—that is, network 600 may includeone or more virtualized functions implemented on general purposehardware, such as in lieu of having dedicated hardware for every networkfunction. That is, general purpose hardware of network 600 may beconfigured to run virtual network elements to support communicationservices, such as mobility services, including consumer services andenterprise services. These services may be provided or measured insessions.

A virtual network functions (VNFs) 602 may be able to support a limitednumber of sessions. Each VNF 602 may have a VNF type that indicates itsfunctionality or role. For example, FIG. 10A illustrates a gateway VNF602 a and a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) VNF 602 b.Additionally or alternatively, VNFs 602 may include other types of VNFs.Each VNF 602 may use one or more virtual machines (VMs) 604 to operate.Each VM 604 may have a VM type that indicates its functionality or role.For example, FIG. 10A illustrates a management control module (MCM) VM604 a and an advanced services module (ASM) VM 604 b. Additionally oralternatively, VMs 604 may include other types of VMs, such as a DEP VM.Each VM 604 may consume various network resources from a hardwareplatform 606, such as a resource 608, a virtual central processing unit(vCPU) 608 a, memory 608 b, or a network interface card (NIC) 608 c.Additionally or alternatively, hardware platform 606 may include othertypes of resources 608.

While FIG. 10A illustrates resources 608 as collectively contained inhardware platform 606, the configuration of hardware platform 606 mayisolate, for example, certain memory 608 c from other memory 608 c. FIG.10B provides an exemplary implementation of hardware platform 606.

Hardware platform 606 may comprise one or more chassis 610. Chassis 610may refer to the physical housing or platform for multiple servers orother network equipment. In an aspect, chassis 610 may also refer to theunderlying network equipment. Chassis 610 may include one or moreservers 612. Server 612 may comprise general purpose computer hardwareor a computer. In an aspect, chassis 610 may comprise a metal rack, andservers 612 of chassis 610 may comprise blade servers that arephysically mounted in or on chassis 610.

Each server 612 may include one or more network resources 608, asillustrated. Servers 612 may be communicatively coupled together (notshown) in any combination or arrangement. For example, all servers 612within a given chassis 610 may be communicatively coupled. As anotherexample, servers 612 in different chasses 610 may be communicativelycoupled. Additionally or alternatively, chasses 610 may becommunicatively coupled together (not shown) in any combination orarrangement.

The characteristics of each chassis 610 and each server 612 may differ.For example, FIG. 10B illustrates that the number of servers 612 withintwo chasses 610 may vary. Additionally or alternatively, the type ornumber of resources 610 within each server 612 may vary. In an aspect,chassis 610 may be used to group servers 612 with the same resourcecharacteristics. In another aspect, servers 612 within the same chassis610 may have different resource characteristics.

Given hardware platform 606, the number of sessions that may beinstantiated may vary depending upon how efficiently resources 608 areassigned to different VMs 604. For example, assignment of VMs 604 toparticular resources 608 may be constrained by one or more rules. Forexample, a first rule may require that resources 608 assigned to aparticular VM 604 be on the same server 612 or set of servers 612. Forexample, if VM 604 uses eight vCPUs 608 a, 1 GB of memory 608 b, and 2NICs 608 c, the rules may require that all of these resources 608 besourced from the same server 612. Additionally or alternatively, VM 604may require splitting resources 608 among multiple servers 612, but suchsplitting may need to conform with certain restrictions. For example,resources 608 for VM 604 may be able to be split between two servers612. Default rules may apply. For example, a default rule may requirethat all resources 608 for a given VM 604 must come from the same server612.

An affinity rule may restrict assignment of resources 608 for aparticular VM 604 (or a particular type of VM 604). For example, anaffinity rule may require that certain VMs 604 be instantiated on (thatis, consume resources from) the same server 612 or chassis 610. Forexample, if VNF 602 uses six MCM VMs 604 a, an affinity rule may dictatethat those six MCM VMs 604 a be instantiated on the same server 612 (orchassis 610). As another example, if VNF 602 uses MCM VMs 604 a, ASM VMs604 b, and a third type of VMs 604, an affinity rule may dictate that atleast the MCM VMs 604 a and the ASM VMs 604 b be instantiated on thesame server 612 (or chassis 610). Affinity rules may restrict assignmentof resources 608 based on the identity or type of resource 608, VNF 602,VM 604, chassis 610, server 612, or any combination thereof.

An anti-affinity rule may restrict assignment of resources 608 for aparticular VM 604 (or a particular type of VM 604). In contrast to anaffinity rule—which may require that certain VMs 604 be instantiated onthe same server 612 or chassis 610—an anti-affinity rule requires thatcertain VMs 604 be instantiated on different servers 612 (or differentchasses 610). For example, an anti-affinity rule may require that MCM VM604 a be instantiated on a particular server 612 that does not containany ASM VMs 604 b. As another example, an anti-affinity rule may requirethat MCM VMs 604 a for a first VNF 602 be instantiated on a differentserver 612 (or chassis 610) than MCM VMs 604 a for a second VNF 602.Anti-affinity rules may restrict assignment of resources 608 based onthe identity or type of resource 608, VNF 602, VM 604, chassis 610,server 612, or any combination thereof.

Within these constraints, resources 608 of hardware platform 606 may beassigned to be used to instantiate VMs 604, which in turn may be used toinstantiate VNFs 602, which in turn may be used to establish sessions.The different combinations for how such resources 608 may be assignedmay vary in complexity and efficiency. For example, differentassignments may have different limits of the number of sessions that canbe established given a particular hardware platform 606.

For example, consider a session that may require gateway VNF 602 a andPCRF VNF 602 b. Gateway VNF 602 a may require five VMs 604 instantiatedon the same server 612, and PCRF VNF 602 b may require two VMs 604instantiated on the same server 612. (Assume, for this example, that noaffinity or anti-affinity rules restrict whether VMs 604 for PCRF VNF602 b may or must be instantiated on the same or different server 612than VMs 604 for gateway VNF 602 a.) In this example, each of twoservers 612 may have enough resources 608 to support 10 VMs 604. Toimplement sessions using these two servers 612, first server 612 may beinstantiated with 10 VMs 604 to support two instantiations of gatewayVNF 602 a, and second server 612 may be instantiated with 9 VMs: fiveVMs 604 to support one instantiation of gateway VNF 602 a and four VMs604 to support two instantiations of PCRF VNF 602 b. This may leave theremaining resources 608 that could have supported the tenth VM 604 onsecond server 612 unused (and unusable for an instantiation of either agateway VNF 602 a or a PCRF VNF 602 b). Alternatively, first server 612may be instantiated with 10 VMs 604 for two instantiations of gatewayVNF 602 a and second server 612 may be instantiated with 10 VMs 604 forfive instantiations of PCRF VNF 602 b, using all available resources 608to maximize the number of VMs 604 instantiated.

Consider, further, how many sessions each gateway VNF 602 a and eachPCRF VNF 602 b may support. This may factor into which assignment ofresources 608 is more efficient. For example, consider if each gatewayVNF 602 a supports two million sessions, and if each PCRF VNF 602 bsupports three million sessions. For the first configuration—three totalgateway VNFs 602 a (which satisfy the gateway requirement for sixmillion sessions) and two total PCRF VNFs 602 b (which satisfy the PCRFrequirement for six million sessions)—would support a total of sixmillion sessions. For the second configuration—two total gateway VNFs602 a (which satisfy the gateway requirement for four million sessions)and five total PCRF VNFs 602 b (which satisfy the PCRF requirement for15 million sessions)—would support a total of four million sessions.Thus, while the first configuration may seem less efficient looking onlyat the number of available resources 608 used (as resources 608 for thetenth possible VM 604 are unused), the second configuration is actuallymore efficient from the perspective of being the configuration that cansupport more the greater number of sessions.

To solve the problem of determining a capacity (or, number of sessions)that can be supported by a given hardware platform 605, a givenrequirement for VNFs 602 to support a session, a capacity for the numberof sessions each VNF 602 (e.g., of a certain type) can support, a givenrequirement for VMs 604 for each VNF 602 (e.g., of a certain type), agive requirement for resources 608 to support each VM 604 (e.g., of acertain type), rules dictating the assignment of resources 608 to one ormore VMs 604 (e.g., affinity and anti-affinity rules), the chasses 610and servers 612 of hardware platform 606, and the individual resources608 of each chassis 610 or server 612 (e.g., of a certain type), aninteger programming problem may be formulated.

As described herein, a telecommunications system wherein management andcontrol utilizing a software designed network (SDN) and a simple IP arebased, at least in part, on user equipment, may provide a wirelessmanagement and control framework that enables common wireless managementand control, such as mobility management, radio resource management,QoS, load balancing, etc., across many wireless technologies, e.g. LTE,5G NR, Wi-Fi, and future 5G access technologies; decoupling the mobilitycontrol from data planes to let them evolve and scale independently;reducing network state maintained in the network based on user equipmenttypes to reduce network cost and allow massive scale; shortening cycletime and improving network upgradability; flexibility in creatingend-to-end services based on types of user equipment and applications,thus improve customer experience; or improving user equipment powerefficiency and battery life—especially for simple M2M devices—throughenhanced wireless management.

While examples of a telecommunications system in which alerts associatedwith video streaming orchestration can be processed and managed havebeen described in connection with various computing devices/processors,the underlying concepts may be applied to any computing device,processor, or system capable of facilitating a telecommunicationssystem. The various techniques described herein may be implemented inconnection with hardware or software or, where appropriate, with acombination of both. Thus, the methods and devices may take the form ofprogram code (i.e., instructions) embodied in concrete, tangible,storage media having a concrete, tangible, physical structure. Examplesof tangible storage media include floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, DVDs, harddrives, or any other tangible machine-readable storage medium(computer-readable storage medium). Thus, a computer-readable storagemedium is not a signal. A computer-readable storage medium is not atransient signal. Further, a computer-readable storage medium is not apropagating signal. A computer-readable storage medium as describedherein is an article of manufacture. When the program code is loadedinto and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomesa device for telecommunications. In the case of program code executionon programmable computers, the computing device will generally include aprocessor, a storage medium readable by the processor (includingvolatile or nonvolatile memory or storage elements), at least one inputdevice, and at least one output device. The program(s) can beimplemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. The languagecan be a compiled or interpreted language, and may be combined withhardware implementations.

The methods and devices associated with a telecommunications system asdescribed herein also may be practiced via communications embodied inthe form of program code that is transmitted over some transmissionmedium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics,or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code isreceived and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as an EPROM, agate array, a programmable logic device (PLD), a client computer, or thelike, the machine becomes an device for implementing telecommunicationsas described herein. When implemented on a general-purpose processor,the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique devicethat operates to invoke the functionality of a telecommunicationssystem.

While a telecommunications system has been described in connection withthe various examples of the various figures, it is to be understood thatother similar implementations may be used or modifications and additionsmay be made to the described examples of a telecommunications systemwithout deviating therefrom. For example, one skilled in the art willrecognize that a telecommunications system as described in the instantapplication may apply to any environment, whether wired or wireless, andmay be applied to any number of such devices connected via acommunications network and interacting across the network. Therefore, atelecommunications system as described herein should not be limited toany single example, but rather should be construed in breadth and scopein accordance with the appended claims.

In describing preferred methods, systems, or apparatuses of the subjectmatter of the present disclosure—video streaming orchestration—asillustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for thesake of clarity. The claimed subject matter, however, is not intended tobe limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to beunderstood that each specific element includes all technical equivalentsthat operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Inaddition, the use of the word “or” is generally used inclusively unlessotherwise provided herein.

This written description uses examples to enable any person skilled inthe art to practice the claimed subject matter, including making andusing any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods.The patentable scope is defined by the claims, and may include otherexamples that occur to those skilled in the art (e.g., skipping steps,combining steps, or adding steps between exemplary methods disclosedherein). Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of theclaims if they have structural elements that do not differ from theliteral language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structuralelements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages ofthe claims.

Disclosed herein are method, systems, apparatuses, and computer readablestorage mediums for orchestrating the communication paths for datatraffic that includes streaming video or the like. The disclosed subjectmatter may detect data traffic of a communication session for a mobiledevice, wherein the data traffic may include video that traverses afirst communication path; based on detecting the data traffic thatincludes video, determine, based on information associated with the datatraffic that may include video traversing the first communication path,that a threshold level has been reached; based on reaching the thresholdlevel, creating a virtual network function on a white box device; andresponsive to creating the virtual network function, provideinstructions to route the data traffic that includes video through asecond communication path instead of the first communication path,wherein the second communication path includes the virtual networkfunction. The virtual network function may include a user plane servinggateway, a user plane packet data network gateway, or other core network(e.g., EPC), base station, or the like virtualized element. Theinformation may include error information of a network link, latencyinformation of the network link, type of data traffic (e.g., videoformat or codec), or the like along the first communication path. Inaddition, based on reaching the threshold level, further creating avirtual machine on the white box device, wherein the secondcommunication path may include the virtual machine, wherein the virtualmachine may be dedicated to a video stream service associated with thestreaming video. All combinations in this paragraph (including theremoval or addition of steps) are contemplated in a manner that isconsistent with the other portions of the detailed description.

What is claimed:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memorycoupled with the processor, the memory storing executable instructionsthat when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuateoperations comprising: detecting data traffic of a communication sessionfor a mobile device, wherein the data traffic comprises video thattraverses a first communication path; based on detecting the datatraffic that comprises video, determining, based on informationassociated with the data traffic that comprises video traversing thefirst communication path, that a threshold level has been reached; basedon reaching the threshold level, creating a virtual network function ona white box device; and responsive to creating the virtual networkfunction, providing instructions to route the data traffic thatcomprises video through a second communication path instead of the firstcommunication path, wherein the second communication path comprises thevirtual network function.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thevirtual network function comprises a user plane serving gateway.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the virtual network function comprises auser plane packet data network gateway.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the information comprises error information of a network linkalong the first communication path.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe information comprises latency information of a network link alongthe first communication path.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theinformation comprises video format information of the video.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, the operations further comprising: based onreaching the threshold level, further creating a virtual machine on thewhite box device, wherein the second communication path comprises thevirtual machine.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, the operations furthercomprising: based on reaching the threshold level, further creating avirtual machine on the white box device, wherein the secondcommunication path comprises the virtual machine, wherein the virtualmachine is dedicated to a video stream service associated with thevideo.
 9. A method comprising: detecting data traffic of a communicationsession for a mobile device, wherein the data traffic comprises videothat traverses a first communication path; based on detecting the datatraffic that comprises video, determining, based on informationassociated with the data traffic that comprises video traversing thefirst communication path, that a threshold level has been reached; basedon reaching the threshold level, creating a virtual network function ona white box device; and responsive to creating the virtual networkfunction, providing instructions to route the data traffic thatcomprises video through a second communication path instead of the firstcommunication path, wherein the second communication path comprises thevirtual network function.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the virtualnetwork function comprises a user plane serving gateway.
 11. The methodof claim 9, wherein the virtual network function comprises a user planepacket data network gateway.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein theinformation comprises error information of a network link along thefirst communication path.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein theinformation comprises latency information of a network link along thefirst communication path.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein theinformation comprises video format information of the video.
 15. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising based on reaching the thresholdlevel, further creating a virtual machine on the white box device,wherein the second communication path comprises the virtual machine. 16.The method of claim 9, further comprising based on reaching thethreshold level, further creating a virtual machine on the white boxdevice, wherein the second communication path comprises the virtualmachine, wherein the virtual machine is dedicated to a video streamservice associated with the video.
 17. A computer readable storagemedium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by acomputing device causes said computing device to effectuate operationscomprising: detecting data traffic of a communication session for amobile device, wherein the data traffic comprises video that traverses afirst communication path; based on detecting the data traffic thatcomprises video, determining, based on information associated with thedata traffic that comprises video traversing the first communicationpath, that a threshold level has been reached; based on reaching thethreshold level, creating a virtual network function on a white boxdevice; and responsive to creating the virtual network function,providing instructions to route the data traffic that comprises videothrough a second communication path instead of the first communicationpath, wherein the second communication path comprises the virtualnetwork function.
 18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17,wherein the virtual network function comprises a user plane servinggateway.
 19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, whereinthe virtual network function comprises a user plane packet data networkgateway.
 20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, theoperations further comprising based on reaching the threshold level,creating a virtual machine on the white box device, wherein the secondcommunication path comprises the virtual machine, wherein the virtualmachine is dedicated to a video stream service associated with thevideo.